Crime & Justice

Amber Alert issued for baby believed kidnapped near Los Angeles

Authorities in Los Angeles County have issued an Amber Alert for a 13-month-old girl they believe was kidnapped from a motel by a man.

Sheriff's Lt. Joseph Fender said Saturday the man had kidnapped the baby's mother earlier and left her in the desert before returning to the motel in Palmdale and taking the baby, identified as Penelope Rodriguez.

The sheriff's office says Penelope was taken around 3 a.m. and last seen wearing a yellow sleeping jumper. Her mother is safe with sheriff's deputies.

Authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Jonathan Holmes, who was driving a brown 2001 BMW with the license number 7-E-V-A-5-4-9.

Anyone who sees the car, Holmes or the baby was asked to call the sheriff's department.